Verdict

Pros

• Low price tag, good implementation of touch screen technology, good image quality

Cons

• Issues with focus accuracy at times, white balance tends to err on the warm side, slightly bulky

Nikon COOLPIX S6150 review – Features and Design

The specifications of compact cameras towards the more affordable end of the pricing scale continue to improve and impress, and this is true of the Nikon COOLPIX S6150. The compact boasts a range of features which would have previously sat well in a compact more than twice its price. A 16MP CCD sensor features, along with Nikon’s EXPEED C2 image processing system. The S6150 is optically eye-catching as well, with a NIKKOR lens offering a 7x optical zoom covering a focal range of 28-196mm – the lens is also supported with 4x anti-blur technology which includes lens shift vibration reduction, high ISO capabilities, motion detection and best shot selection. The rear of the camera houses a 3in touch control LCD screen which boasts a 460k-dot resolution and through which most of the camera controls are accessed. Other features worthy of note are the model’s 720p HD video capture, scene selector auto mode and subject tracking AF.

The design and build quality of the S6150 betray its low price tag. An attractive body features a matt finish and overall weighty feel of reassuring quality. The rear of the camera, as is often the case with touchscreen cameras, features few buttons – those that are present offer access to movie capture, image play back and scene mode selection. Despite the quality finish and attractive design, the S6150 is slightly bulkier than other compacts in the price range, but it is by no means bulky.

Performance, Image Quality and Verdict

Nikon COOLPIX S6150 review – Performance, image quality and verdict

Touch screen compacts are not necessarily to everyone’s taste,
although the S6150’s implementation performs well. When shooting, a pair
of menus are easily accessed from both the bottom and left side of the
screen, offering access of simple shooting adjustments through the
former and more advance controls, such as image quality and flash
through the latter.

The S6150 is pleasurable to use – the
aforementioned slick touch screen performance no doubt aids this, but
elements such as focus speed are also pleasingly prompt. However despite
this speed, the focus can sometime struggle with accuracy, as is also
the case with the model’s white balance.

The advanced
specification of the Nikon S6150 produces images to a decent standard.
Sharpness is generally pleasing, even though the model features a 7x
optical zoom, whilst high ISO noise is also well controlled up to ISO
800. Also, considering the relatively large focal range, the Nikon S6150 control chromatic aberation well throughout the focal range. There are occasions when white can err on the slightly warm side,
although this is generally not to the detriment of image quality on the
whole.

Considering the low price tag of the Nikon S6150, it certainly is an eye catching compact. The specification hints at a model which should cost a lot more, while the compact delivers good result on the whole despite a few misgivings over white balance. The only real letdowns are a slightly bulky body and some issues with focus accuracy but, on the whole, the S6150 is a quality compact camera.

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